CLOQUET — The Higher Learning Commission has reaffirmed the regional accreditation of Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in Cloquet, Minnesota.
The Higher Learning Commission conducts comprehensive evaluations of member institutions to confirm that the institution continues to meet the Criteria for Accreditation, is pursuing institutional improvement, and complies with requirements set by the U.S. Department of Education. The accreditation process covers five criteria, twenty-one core components, and sixty-eight subcomponents. Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College met all areas free of concern.
“That we met everything free of concern shines a bright light on the quality of every dimension of our college,” said Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College President Stephanie Hammitt. “I am so proud of all our faculty and staff. Their commitment to serving students was clearly confirmed by the site visit team.”
Last October, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College hosted a three-day site visit by a five-member team in accordance with the Higher Learning Commission’s reaffirmation timeline. Prior to the visit, the college went through an intensive self-study process and prepared a comprehensive assurance review report as required by the Higher Learning Commission.
The Higher Learning Commission site visit team’s report noted the college’s “institutional commitment to providing quality education and ensuring platforms for rigor and integrity” and “the excellent physical and technological resources that meet current needs and are projected to sustain growth in future years.”
Also noted in the final report was the team’s “conversations with students and faculty reveal the pursuit of truth and learning is woven into the fabric of the institution.” Other highlights were the college’s collection and analysis of student learning data, the centrality of the college’s mission to all aspects of daily work, and the college’s sound financial health.
After the completion and review of the comprehensive assurance review document, the Higher Learning Commission’s team site visit, and the team’s written report, the team’s report then went through additional review in the reaffirmation process. The final approval action was taken by the Higher Learning Commission’s Board of Trustees. Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College was notified of the board’s approval earlier this year.
In addition to achieving the Higher Learning Commission’s reaffirmation of regional accreditation, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College hosted a separate site visit in December for the Higher Learning Commission approval of the college’s additional location at the Minnesota Department of Corrections–Moose Lake facility. Approval was granted by the Higher Learning Commission shortly after the site visit. Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College provides its Clean Energy Technology certificate program on-site at the Moose Lake facility through the Second Chance Pell experimental initiative of the U. S. Department of Education. Sixteen students have graduated from the program since spring 2018.
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College has been regionally-accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1998. In addition to regional accreditation, all programming related to Indigenous studies is accredited by the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium. The college’s Law Enforcement program is approved by the Minnesota Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Board. The Nursing program is approved by the Minnesota Board of Nursing.